The purpose of this study is to asses the impact of a tailored preoperative psychological intervention on women with gynecological malignancies on psychological, physiological and immunological parameters

psychological, physiological, immunological parameters [ Time Frame: A week before surgery, the day befor surgery, day of hospital discharge, one month after surgery ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Women in this arm will not receive a psychological intervention but rather will have a conversation with a nurse for one hour (attention control).

Other: Control group

A one hour conversation with a nurse

Other Name: Control group

Experimental: 2

Cognitive intervention: Women in this arm will receive a cognitive psychological intervention(cognitive technique:self-talk)

Behavioral: Cognitive intervention

The intervention will last one hour and will include cognitive technique (self-talk). The technique will be demonstrated to the woman, practiced with her, and taped so as to encourage further practice at home.

Other Name: Tailored cognitive intervention

Experimental: 3

Psycho-physiological intervention: Women in this arm will receive a psycho-physiological intervention (relaxation and guided imagery)

Other: psycho-physiological intervention

The intervention will last an hour and will include a psycho-physiological intervention (relaxation and guided imagery). The technique will be demonstrated to the woman, practiced with her, and taped so as to assure further practice at home

Other Name: tailored psycho-physiological intervention

Detailed Description:

Surgery is considered one of the most stressful events in human life. Research indicates that patients show high levels of stress from at least six days before surgery and up to a week post the operation. Stress levels return to normalcy only after several weeks. Research shows that psychological interventions given to women suffering from cancer can improve their coping abilities and overall function, decreases stress levels, enhances adherence to treatments,and increases quality of life and even life expectancy.

Women enrolled in this study will be divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Both groups will receive standard care. The control group will interact with a nurse for one hour. The experimental group will receive one of two forms of psychological intervention: either a cognitive intervention, or a psychophysiological intervention (tailored to each woman).

Measurements and Instruments include: 1) Self-report questionnaires, such as:Profile of Mood States (POMS-SF),Coping Inventory (COPE), Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT- R),Stress Level Report, 2) Demographics, 3) Global assessment by the head nurse. 4)Physiological and behavioral measures, such as: vital signs and use of medicine. 5)Hormonal and immunological measures: levels of cortisol in saliva and plasma, levels of catecholamines in plasma, salivary levels of IgA1, and peripheral blood NK cells and lymphocyte phenotyping.6)levels of cytokines including IL-1,2,4,6,10,12, TNF-alpha, Interferon-gamma.

Time intervals for the collection of blood and saliva and the administration of the questionnaires:

During the first week after being given the diagnosis and prior to the intervention:Blood & saliva, Stress Level Report, POMS-SF, COPE, LOT-R

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00726635